When is a keyboard "mechanical"?

[xxhellfirexx]

I think the term mechanical is an easy way to comment on the key feel. Mechanical keyboards are associated with a crisp key feel whereas non-mechanical is associated with something that is mushy and imprecise.

[ramnes]

Good question indeed! The definition I made to myself is that a mechanical keyboard is a keyboard where the activation point is before the bottom out.

[the_marsbar]

In my opinion it is simply a poor term for a keyboard. Also, it does not make any sense to me to try to re-define what "mechanical" means. But I appreciate the effort wrt. trying to sort out the mess.

I agree with Hypersphere, its better to be more specific about what one is referring to.